Hang was back in Vietnam on May 4 after training in China for one month, before flying on to Bangkok for the women's 800m event.

"I am determined to increase my speed by training with exercises in 200m, 400m and 600m races," Hang said. "I am in good condition, even better than when I [won a gold medal in] the SEA Games."

The Danang City-based racer has demonstrated stable performance during her time in China and set up her own target in Thailand.

"My goal is finishing 800m in 2:01:30," she said, explaining that this would meet the Olympics' B standard.

Training locally, sprinter Vu Thi Huong will accompany Hang to compete in the women's 100m event. Huong's personal best is 11.33 set at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2007.

Dinh Thi Viet Anh was also expected to perform well in the women's high jump event. Anh is determined to fly over 1.92m – 2cm higher than her personal best, which brought her SEA Games gold seven months ago.

Anh said her back injury would not affect her performance in Thailand.

The second and third rounds of the Asian Grand Prix will be on May 9 in Kanchaburi and May 13 in Nakomratsima. Their last chances will come at the Asian All Star Athletics Meet in Kazakhstan on June 30, at which time Olympics organizers will lock down their list of qualifiers.